The Gearbox GX2 Power is a soft 16mm power paddle. The sound is a deep thud. It comes as a Hybrid or an Elongated, for experienced attackers who don't want a stiff paddle. I'd go Hybrid. It's quicker in your hands than the Elongated, with clearly more pop and a far bigger sweet spot. Both shapes are $279.99. The code STSPICKLEBALL takes 10% off, which brings both shapes to $251.99.
Every version, side by side
| Out of 100 | GX2 Power Elongated$251.99 with code · elongated | GX2 Power Hybrid$251.99 with code · hybrid |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 84ALeads by 6 | 78B |
| Pop | 67B | 82ALeads by 15 |
| Spin | 74B | 81ALeads by 7 |
| Sweet spot | 47D | 71BLeads by 24 |
| Control | 54C | 69BLeads by 15 |
| Swing weightlower is quicker | 116.7 | 111.9 |
| Twist weighthigher is steadier | 6.19 | 6.57 |
Elongated
$251.99with code STSPICKLEBALL
list price $279.99Code STSPICKLEBALL takes 10% off, and my link applies it for you.
Hybrid
$251.99with code STSPICKLEBALL
list price $279.99Code STSPICKLEBALL takes 10% off, and my link applies it for you.
Pros and cons
Pros
- It's soft for a power paddle, with more cushion than a JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16mm.
- The Hybrid gets 2,316 RPM off a raw carbon face, and only 37 paddles I've tested spin more.
- Both handles are 5.5 inches, long enough for a two-handed backhand.
Cons
- The Elongated's sweet spot scored 47 out of 100, against 71 on the Hybrid.
- Drives launch high and can sail long until you flatten out your swing.
- Cheaper paddles score at least as well.
Quick answers
How much is the Gearbox GX2 Power?
Both shapes are $279.99, so price won't decide which one you get. With the code STSPICKLEBALL, either one is $251.99.
Softer and more muted than a JOOLA Perseus Pro IV
The GX2 Power is soft, but it isn't mushy. Both shapes have more cushion than the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16mm. It's a little stiffer when it's new, and it softens up after break-in.
The sound is deep and bassy, with a hint of hollow. It's more muted than the Pro IV 16mm, which is the crisper of the two.
Dwell is longer than on the Pro IV 16mm, and longest on the Hybrid.
Power and spin
How its spin stacks up against other hybrids you can buy
More spin than most hybrids, 40 RPM above the average
The top three for spin
- 1Honolulu J2CR Long Handle Crystal Blue2,467
- 211SIX24 Vapor Jelly Bean 22,40364 RPM behind
- 311SIX24 Ultré Jelly Bean 22,39770 RPM behind
- 13Gearbox GX2 Power Hybrid2,316151 RPM behind
The Elongated has a little more power than the Hybrid, since its extra swing weight helps you drive through the ball. It hits about as hard as the typical elongated, but only about one in six paddles I've tested hit harder. The Hybrid's power is about the same as the typical hybrid's.
The Hybrid's spin is about the same as the typical hybrid's, but only 12 hybrids I've tested spin more. For a raw carbon face with no grit on it, that's a lot of spin. The Elongated spins about the same as the typical elongated, and the two shapes are about even.
The Hybrid is the quicker shape at the net
In hands battles, the Hybrid is the better shape. It has a little more pop than the typical hybrid, so counters and speed-ups get easy pace from a short, compact swing. Just know that a full swing in a fast exchange can fly long. Flicks come off fast on the Hybrid too.
The Elongated still punches hard on counters, but that comes from power more than pop. Its pop is a little lower than the typical elongated's.
Dinks stay soft for a power paddle
For a power paddle, dinks are good on both shapes. The Elongated has a little more control than the typical elongated, and the Hybrid's control is about the same as the typical hybrid's. Keep in mind that neither shape keeps the ball down for you when you're getting attacked.
Off-center hits cost more on the Elongated
The biggest gap between the two shapes is on mishits. The Elongated scored far lower than the Hybrid for sweet spot, and about four in five paddles I've tested score higher. That's a little below the typical elongated, and an off-center hit loses more pace than it would on the Hybrid, whose sweet spot sits right at the middle for a hybrid.
There are two reasons for the gap. The Elongated's face is 7.38 inches wide, and the Hybrid's is 7.8 inches. The Elongated also has a lower twist weight. Twist weight tells you how well the face holds steady on an off-center hit, and a lower one means the face turns more when you miss.
How it feels in your hand next to other hybrids you can buy
About average in your hands, about average when you miss the middle
How heavy the paddle feels when you swing it. A lower number swings quicker.
About average swing weight for a hybrid.
How much the paddle fights twisting when you miss the middle. A higher number is steadier.
About average twist weight for a hybrid.
How its sweet spot stacks up against other hybrids you can buy
An average-size sweet spot for a hybrid
Both rings are sized to their score.
A carbon-reinforced core under a raw carbon face
Gearbox calls the core the SST 2.0 CarbonRibCore. It's carbon-reinforced, with an EVA insert and perimeter foam, and Gearbox says it's separated from the frame so the ball stays on the face longer. That's the dwell, and Gearbox says it adds spin too. The face is raw 3K woven carbon. I measured the Elongated's swing weight at 116.7 and the Hybrid's at 111.9.
Both are USA Pickleball approved.
Hybrid owners like the dwell, but three found it harder to control
Gearbox put the GX2 Power out in August 2025. Five Hybrid owners, the latest in April 2026, say the dwell makes drops and dinks feel good for a power paddle. Three more liked the power on drives, serves and speed-ups. On the Elongated, three owners in August and September 2025 liked getting power with control, and said the ball sinks in on dinks and placement shots.
Three Hybrid owners, all between August and November 2025, found it harder to control than they expected, mostly after break-in. I haven't seen that from an Elongated owner.
Eight owners said the power went up after break-in, five on the Hybrid and three on the Elongated, the latest in September 2026. Gearbox itself says the dwell and the sweet spot grow as it breaks in.
GX2 Power vs JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16mm
The Pro IV 16mm is $149.95 with no code, $102.04 less than the GX2 Power with mine.
The Pro IV has a polypropylene honeycomb core, not the GX2 Power's carbon-reinforced one. Unlike the GX2 Power, the Pro IV is UPA-A approved too. JOOLA gives it six months, or 12 if you register the NFC chip. Gearbox gives a full year.
The Elongated is the closer match. It hits about as hard as the Pro IV 16mm, with about the same pop, sweet spot and swing weight. Control is clearly higher, and it spins far more.
The Hybrid gives up a little power to the Pro IV 16mm, and that's the only one of my scores the JOOLA wins. The Hybrid has a far bigger sweet spot and far more control, so it's a lot more forgiving, and it spins far more too.
So if price comes first, the Pro IV 16mm gives you as much power as either shape for a lot less money. If you want more control and spin, the GX2 Power is ahead on my numbers in both shapes.
Cheaper paddles that match or beat each shape on most of my numbers
Two paddles you might pick instead
How it stacks up against the J6CR Crystal Blue and the J6NF
A paddle only wins a score when it leads by 5 points or more.
GX2 Power HybridHybrid · $251.99
J6CR Crystal BlueElongated · $175.50The J6CR hits harder and spins more. Pop, sweet spot and control are about the same. The J6CR costs about $76 less.
GX2 Power HybridHybrid · $251.99
J6NFElongated · $175.50The GX2 Power has more pop. Power, spin, sweet spot and control are about the same. The J6NF costs about $76 less.
Instead of the Elongated
Honolulu J6CR Crystal Blue, $195.00, or $175.50 with code STS10. It's $84.99 less, and it's for players who want the Elongated's power with more of everything else. Power is about the same, but the J6CR has far more spin and a far bigger sweet spot, plus clearly more pop and control. It's only UPA-A approved, so you can't use it in USA Pickleball sanctioned events.
Honolulu J6NF, $195.00, or $175.50 with code STS10. This is the one if you need USA Pickleball approval and want an elongated that forgives your mishits. It has a far bigger sweet spot, clearly more control and a little more pop. Power, spin and swing weight are about the same as the GX2 Power Elongated.
Enhance MPP Turbo ArmorGrit Elongated, $119.99, or $99.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL. At $160 less, it's the budget pick for power players. It hits a little harder, with clearly more pop, a clearly bigger sweet spot and a lighter swing. Its spin and control are about the same as the GX2 Power Elongated's. The one-year warranty only covers the core.
Instead of the Hybrid
Pickleball Apes Zen S+, $188.88, or $169.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL. It's $91.11 less. You get far more power, clearly more pop, a clearly bigger sweet spot and a lighter swing. Spin and control are about even. It's 16.5mm and USA Pickleball approved.
Honolulu J2CR Long Handle Crystal Blue, $195.00, or $175.50 with code STS10. This is the pick for spin-first players. It has the most spin of any paddle I've scored, far more than the GX2 Power Hybrid. In my wear test, Honolulu's Crystal Blue lost about 1% of its spin over 75 games. It also has a clearly bigger sweet spot and a 6.0 inch handle. It's only UPA-A approved, so it isn't on the USA Pickleball list.
Honolulu J2NF, $195.00, or $175.50 with code STS10. It's for players who want extra control with USA Pickleball approval. It has a little more control, a little bigger sweet spot and a lighter swing. Power and spin are about the same, and it gives up a little pop.
My pick is the Hybrid, unless you hit from the baseline
At 16.5 inches, the Elongated is 0.3 inches longer than the Hybrid, and that reach only pays off if you hit hard from the baseline.
Testing details
- Tested, Elongated
- July 15, 2026
- Tested, Hybrid
- July 15, 2026
- Power and pop
- 20 full serves for power and 20 punch volleys for pop, every ball speed read on a Stalker radar gun.
- Spin
- 20 more serves on the radar. I drop the outliers and average the rest.
- Swing and twist weight
- Measured on a Briffidi SW1 swing weight machine.
- Sweet spot and control
- The same dinks, drops, resets and drives off a Titan ONE ball machine, for every paddle.
- The scores
- Out of 100, with the same tests for every paddle. The top paddles I've tested score 100.
- Published
- Scores from
- My database, updated October 15, 2026. How I test
No. 1
No. 2
No. 3
